Driving in Armenia vs. Costa Rica: Key Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Armenia and Costa Rica, motorists will discover significant contrasts that impact travel safety. Key distinctions include lane usage for buses, speed limits in urban and rural areas, and protocols for emergency vehicles. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
Bus Lanes: Presence
armenia:
Yes
costa rica:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
armenia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
Bus Lanes: Markings
armenia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
costa rica:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
armenia:
Yes
costa rica:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
armenia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
armenia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
costa rica:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
armenia:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Speeds Limits
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside |
Urban Areas: Standard
armenia:
40-60 km/h
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
armenia:
20 km/h
costa rica:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
armenia:
90 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
armenia:
90 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
armenia:
70 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
armenia:
110 km/h
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
armenia:
90 km/h
costa rica:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
armenia:
90 km/h
costa rica:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
armenia:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
armenia:
Yes
costa rica:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
armenia:
Common
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
Signals
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Armenia | Not used in Costa Rica |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Armenian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
armenia:
Not used in Armenia
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
armenia:
Unnecessary use discouraged
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
Traffic Signs: Language
armenia:
Armenian; symbols are standard
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
armenia:
Triangular-shaped with red border
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
armenia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
Documentation
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
armenia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
armenia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
armenia:
Annual inspection required
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
armenia:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
armenia:
Mandatory
costa rica:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use is common to signal intentions |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
armenia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
armenia:
Pull over and stop if necessary
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints are used throughout |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity |
Limits: General Drivers
armenia:
0.04%
costa rica:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
armenia:
0.02%
costa rica:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
armenia:
Common
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
Enforcement: Fines
armenia:
Varies; can be substantial
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
Emergency Services
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 911 or direct number depending on location |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
armenia:
104
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
Contact: Roadside Assistance
armenia:
Check with your insurance provider
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
armenia:
Mandatory
costa rica:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Armenia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and points on license | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applied | Fines applicable for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied, points on license | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common; police may issue fines on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
armenia:
Varies; fines and points on license
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
armenia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
armenia:
Varies; fines apply
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
armenia:
Fines applied
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
armenia:
Fines applied, points on license
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Payment: On The Spot
armenia:
Common
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot